Archive · 3 Jan 2026
Jharkhand Notifies PESA Rules Empowering Tribal Gram Sabhas
The Jharkhand government has announced new rules under the PESA Act.
These rules give more power to tribal village councils, called gram sabhas.
The gram sabhas will now have control over their land, forests, and other resources.
They will also have a say in matters like land acquisition, liquor sales, and even school monitoring.
The rules were approved by the state cabinet in December 2023 and will be fully implemented in 13 districts and partially in 3 others.
This is a big step to protect the rights of tribal communities in Jharkhand.
Jharkhand government notified PESA rules on January 3, 2024, empowering tribal gram sabhas.
Gram sabhas will have control over land, water, forest resources, culture, and governance systems.
The rules require pre-consent of gram sabhas for land acquisition, liquor sales, and other key issues.
The PESA Act will be fully implemented in 13 districts and partially in 3 districts of Jharkhand.
Gram sabhas will also have the right to monitor schools, anganwadis, health centers, and PDS shops.
- Who
- Jharkhand government and tribal communities in scheduled areas
- What
- Notification of PESA rules empowering gram sabhas
- When
- January 3, 2024 (notification), December 23, 2023 (cabinet approval)
- Where
- Jharkhand, India (13 districts fully, 3 partially)
- Why
- To restore and protect the rights of tribal communities over their land, water, forest resources, culture, and governance systems
- Act
- Panchayat Extension of Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act
- Notification Date
- January 3, 2024
- Cabinet Approval Date
- December 23, 2023
- Applicable Districts (Full)
- 13 districts
- Applicable Districts (Partial)
- 3 districts
- Villages Covered
- 16,022
- Panchayats Covered
- 2,074
- Gram Sabha Rights
- Land, water, forest resources, culture, governance, and more